CREDENTIALING CreDentialing e t C Certifies SucceSS PHOTOS BY ISTOCK.COM 20 Techniques November/december 2011 www.acteonline.org By SUSAN REESE A ccording to Webster’s Diction- dence they need to enter the workforce or ary, a credential is something to go on to pursue postsecondary educa- that gives a title to credit tion or additional certifications. “As NCCER notes, these industry or confidence. The certifi- Mastercam is another company with credentials give employers confidence cates and diplomas earned in career and a certification program designed to give technical education (CTE) are providing students an extra edge with employers in a craft professional’s skill, students with both the credits to help and, as the company notes, increases your knowledge and desire for continuous them find success in the workplace or in school’s value to the local community. improvement, and they provide further education, as well as the confi- When a school is recognized as providing dence of knowing they have the skills that valuable skills along with the credentials those who earn them with portable, are needed. There are a number of ways to back up those skills, more students will industry-recognized credentials.” that CTE students are earning these cre- be attracted to the program. dentials. For example, NOCTI provides As the company’s Web site points out, more than 170 standardized assessments while certification was originally meant in occupations that range from culinary to create a benchmark for schools, many to building trades to business to manu- programmers see certification as a way to potential employers. For assessments, cer- facturing. (For more information about validate the skills they know. Mastercam tification of an individual’s qualifications NOCTI, see the article on page 30 in this describes its certification program as a rig- is tracked through the National Registry, issue of Techniques.) orous set of practical tests that recognize and credentials include certification of a programmer’s knowledge and ability to successful completion of the written assess- credentials designed for Success work effectively with Mastercam CAM ment for a craft; performance verification As Autodesk notes, career and technical software, overcome common issues facing for a craft; and certified-plus for successful education programs across the United today’s shops, and produce high-quality completion of both the written assess- States equip students with marketable 2-D finished parts. According to the company, ment and the corresponding performance and 3-D design skills by teaching them to its certification program has additional verification. use state-of-the-art design software such flexibility for students and schools since it Among the NCCER certifications is as that offered by Autodesk. AutoCAD can be used as an online training course the Mobile Crane Operator Certification Certified User and Autodesk Inventor and can be worked into a dual-credit pro- Program, in which students can earn 13 Certified User credentials include both gram. Mastercam instructor certification equipment-specific certifications. There is academic and industry requirements in classes are now available online as well. also a Rigger and Signal Person Certifica- attainable certifications designed specifi- tion Program that includes three levels cally for students. According to Autodesk, constructing credentials for Success of rigger certifications (basic, intermedi- the exams combine multiple-choice and The National Center for Construction ate and advanced), as well as a signal performance-based questions to ensure Education and Research (NCCER) person certification. As NCCER notes, students understand and can effectively maintains a credentialing and certifica- these industry credentials give employ- use the company’s software. Through the tion system through its National Registry, ers confidence in a craft professional’s Autodesk Education Community, students which tracks both training and/or assess- skill, knowledge and desire for continuous and educators also have the opportunity ments for its participants. For training, the improvement, and they provide those who to get free software, learning materials National Registry provides transcripts, earn them with portable, industry-recog- and classroom support. certificates and wallet cards to students nized credentials. Autodesk notes that not only do these who complete the company’s curriculum When the Home Builders Institute credentials confirm that students have the through an NCCER Accredited Train- (HBI) established its Residential Con- necessary skills to continue their design ing Sponsor, making it easy to provide struction Academy (RCA) initiative in careers, but it also gives students the confi- verification of their training to current or 2001, it was intended to bridge the critical www.acteonline.org November/december 2011 Techniques 21 CREDENTIALING “Working with technical committees on the identification of standards and competencies and the development of questions to appropriately measure technical skills and knowledge, SkillsUSA has developed a Work Force Ready System that provides assessments for CTE that are supported by industry, education and policy leaders.” skill gap that exists within the residential tion courses, and a Residential Construc- curriculum to reflect the trend toward construction industry. RCA develops tion Superintendent (RCS) designation green building and the new “green” skills educational materials and programs that is issued to candidates who successfully needed for the residential construction meet the current and future needs of the complete the full set of eight courses. workforce. The PACT curriculum is National Association of Home Builders’ According to HBI, it is in the process used by HBI’s Workforce, Training and members. It includes performance-based of developing a second track of RCS Employment Department in its training testing designed to measure tasks such as programming—the Advanced Residential programs. carpentry, wiring, plumbing and HVAC. Construction Superintendent (ARCS) There is program credentialing for educa- designation—that is designed for individ- Getting ready With SkillsUSA tional institutions, and there are training uals who have already received the RCS Working with technical committees on programs that utilize the materials. designation. the identification of standards and compe- HBI also developed four-hour modules HBI recently updated its Pre-Appren- tencies and the development of questions for Residential Superintendent Designa- ticeship Certificate Training (PACT) to appropriately measure technical skills The Real World Uses Real Tools Tormach PCNC 1100 Series 3 With more than half a ton of iron behind it, the PCNC 1100 brings the excitement of a real machine shop to your classroom. Desktop toys cutting wax and plastic simply $8480 cannot grab the attention of today’s students. The fascination that can lead to a (plus shipping) lifetime career begins with the thrill of that fi rst serious project. Tormach CNC mills are a perfect way for STEM, PLTW, FIRST, Pre-Engineering, Skills USA, and other technology curriculums. Whether it’s building a competition robot or just cutting parts for a custom motorcycle, the strength and power of a serious machine tool like the PCNC 1100 will inspire today’s students to be tomorrow’s innovatwors. Every PCNC 1100 Series 3 features: • R8 Spindle 1.5 hp variable speed to 5000 RPM • Computer controlled spindle speed and direction • Standard G code with DXF & HPGL fi le support • Composition bonded slideways (similar to Turcite®) • Table size 34” x 9.5” Shown here with optional stand, LCD, keyboard arm, tool rack, and keyboard www.tormach.com 22 Techniques November/december 2011 www.acteonline.org and knowledge, SkillsUSA has developed development and training efforts. SkillsUSA is with the Graphic Arts a Work Force Ready System that provides SkillsUSA likens these assessments to Education and Research Foundation assessments for CTE that are supported the PSAT test and describes them as “an (GAERF) to offer online PrintED/Skill- by industry, education and policy leaders. on-ramp” for programs such as those of sUSA assessments; PrintED is a national These committees, notes SkillsUSA, rep- CompTIA and the American Welding accreditation program administered resent diverse, leading organizations that Society, and the certificates as identifying by GAERF that is based on industry serve their respective industries. the competencies tested and not intended standards for graphic communications According to SkillsUSA, “Skill Con- to serve as an equivalent to industry certi- courses of study at the secondary and nect Assessments help candidates prove fications currently available. postsecondary levels. The assessments their technical skills and knowledge to Automotive Youth Educational Sys- assess technical skills and knowledge with potential employers. They also help local tems (AYES) and the National Automo- interactive questions enriched by anima- instructors and programs demonstrate the tive Technicians Education Foundation tions, videos, drawings and photographs. value of their programs, while supporting (NATEF) have partnered with SkillsUSA Students who receive passing scores on local industries with a pool of potential to offer a single National Automotive the assessments will receive co-branded employees that have been tested by a Student Skills Standards Assessment pro- GAERF/SkillsUSA certificates. system they can trust.” gram. The tests, which were developed They may be used as pre-assessments by Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), The role of community to identify individual educational needs; are designed to evaluate students who are and Technical colleges to identify proficiency levels at the near the end of their studies in automobile Community and technical colleges are ex- completion of a program of study at either service, collision repair and refinishing, periencing a surge in enrollments because the secondary or postsecondary level; or and medium/heavy truck. of the great value they offer for young by organizations conducting workforce Another partnership established by people who are looking for affordable Fast Track Your Career At Johnson & Wales University internships are a core part of our academic program. Nearly a quarter of our students get hands-on work experience at more than 1,400 sites every year. At least 50 percent of our students get a job offer from their internship site, while enrolled at JWU! Come to where it all begins. 1-800-DIAL-JWU (342-5598) www.jwu.edu “ Anything you can image, I’ve been involved in. PROVIDENCE, R.I. • NORTH MIAMI, FLA. • DENVER, COLO. • CHARLOTTE, N.C. That’s because of Johnson & Wales.” Sarah Pinsonault ’10 College of Business • College of Culinary Arts • The Hospitality College Intern, Charlotte Motor Speedway School of Technology • Graduate School Johnson & Wales University admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin, among other categories. www.acteonline.org November/december 2011 Techniques 23 CREDENTIALING postsecondary education, and to acquire cal program of study have a number tificates in masonry, plumbing, tailoring/ the skills they will need to enter the of options for earning credentials. For alterations and welding. workforce. But older, more experienced example, the college’s Division of Com- Among the certificates offered by adults are also turning to community mercial and Industrial Technology offers the BSCC Division of Consumer and and technical colleges because they either Associate of Occupational Technologies Transportation Technology are ones in need to change careers or update their Certificates in automotive body technol- cosmetology, diesel technology, graphic current skills. ogy, barbering/hair styling, and com- communications, jewelry design, nail At the four city campuses of Bishop mercial food service. It also offers an technology, and truck driving. Students in State Community College (BSCC) in Associate in Applied Science Certificate the Division of Engineering and Con- Mobile, Alabama, students in the techni- in commercial food service, as well as cer- struction Technology may earn degrees and certificates that include carpentry, civil engineering, electrical technol- ogy, electronics engineering technology, machine tool technology, and process and maintenance technology. Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) is Ohio’s oldest and largest community college, and as such has many degree and certificate options available. There are Associate of Applied Business degrees in administrative office systems and caption- ing and court reporting, and Associate of Applied Science degrees in different aspects of applied industrial technol- ogy. There are also certificate programs ranging from automotive maintenance to massage therapy to magnetic resonance imaging to visual communication and design. At Tri-C, the students range in age from teenagers to seniors, and the college offers fast-track career programs and cer- tifications that can be completed quickly with classes held days, evenings and weekends. For example, at the Cuyahoga Center for Health Industry Solutions, there are fast-track certification programs for nurse assistant and patient access spe- Visit our Booth cialist. During the 2010-2011 academic year, the school awarded 2,544 degrees #1139 and certificates, and according to Tri-C, of the 86 percent of graduates from its career programs who find employment, 83 percent are in jobs that relate to their field of study. In 2012 the Wisconsin Technical Col- lege System (WTCS) will celebrate its centennial. Although it was established in 1912 as one technical college, today’s Wis- consin technical colleges cover the state 24 Techniques November/december 2011 www.acteonline.org Take Your and offer more than 300 programs rang- and continuing through community and Students To A ing from welding to business to health technical colleges, is giving students the Higher Level care to biotechnology. WTCS also has skills they need for the global workplace Advanced Technical Certificates in which or for continuing their educations. It is some of the credits are advanced content also providing them with the credentials beyond the associate degree level. that prove their value to employers and to At Wisconsin’s Gateway Technical the future of our nation. College, there are numerous certificate options available in fields that range from CAD/CAM to hospitality to health care explore More to business technology to transportation. For more information about the Gateway also offers Advanced Techni- credentialing organizations discussed in cal Certificates in computer animation, this article, here are some Web sites to visit. digital photography, financial planning, American Welding Society game programming, geothermal special- www.aws.org ist, multimedia, network security, tele- Autodesk communications engineering, and urban www.autodesk.com farming, as well as an Oracle Advanced Automotive Service Excellence Technical Certificate. www.ase.com Fox Valley Technical College is one Automotive Youth Educational Systems of the Wisconsin schools that partner www.ayes.org Our materials focus on the with the Cisco Networking Academy to Cisco Systems, Inc. technical skills that are necessary provide students the opportunity to pre- www.cisco.com for students to achieve a high pare for the Cisco Certified Networking CompTIA level of performance in the Associate (CCNA) exam. The Milwaukee www.comptia.org skilled trades. Area Technical College offers the Cisco Graphic Arts Education Internetworking Certificate, which in- and Research Foundation www.gaerf.org Instructional resources are cludes four courses that prepare students available that provide a wealth for the CCNA exam. Home Builders Institute www.hbi.org of content information and In the CompTIA Certified IT Profes- curriculum fl exibility. Mastercam sional Certificate Program at Waukesha www.mastercam.com County Technical College, students will Choose the quality that many National Center for Construction gain the skills required to pass CompTIA Education and Research professionals in the fi eld, and in certifications for A+, Server+, Network+, www.nccer.org the classroom, have known for and Security+. The college notes that as a NOCTI decades... ATP! VUE/Pearson testing center and a Comp- www.nocti.org TIA member, it is able to provide testing Oracle VISIT US AT THE at a discounted rate. www.oracle.com ACTE CAREER EXPO IN ST. LOUIS Graduates of Wisconsin’s technical BOOTH #416 SkillsUSA colleges have gone on to careers in engi- www.skillsusa.org Visit our Booth neering and sustainability, and according to WTCS, as the workplace changes, its Susan Reese #416 programs change to offer the greatest is a Techniques contributing writer. She can be contacted at potential for career growth. As a result, Scan here to visit our web site even in a down economy, 86 percent of its [email protected]. www.go2atp.com graduates have jobs within six months of graduation. Interested in exploring this topic further? Discuss it with your In today’s economy, it’s important to colleagues on the ACTE forums at www. note that career and technical educa- acteonline.org/forum.aspx. tion, beginning in secondary programs www.acteonline.org November/december 2011 Techniques 25